Switching SMTP

Over the last couple of months my hosting provider has changed the time it takes for processing of emails via the web forms on my website. They tell me the usual processing time is now around 5 seconds but I am increasingly finding that it can take up to 30 seconds. I contacted them about this and they said that they are working on a fix but cannot guarantee a timeframe which is making my forms useless. Instead they say I should be using an SMTP connection instead to send emails via my forms as this works without error.

So, I have opened up Universal Email and using a test page (attached) I have changed the mail method to SMTP option. They gave me the following details to use:

Server/Hostname: localhost
Port: 25.
Set a from email and to email if necessary (needs to be associated with the website)
Do not set: Authentication, SSL/TLS encryption, Username or password.

I have done the above, made sure the latest version of WA_Email.php and SMTP.php are uploaded to the server. The page loads fine but I don't receive any test email.

Please could help?

Kind regards,
Thomas

Add debug to the email and it should give you a message identifying the problem.

$Email->SMTPDebug = 4;

Hi Ray,

I've added the code and here is the output:

2023-01-20 08:26:20 Connection: opening to localhost:25, timeout=300, options=array ( 'ssl' => array ( 'verify_peer' => false, 'verify_peer_name' => false, 'allow_self_signed' => true, ),)
2023-01-20 08:26:20 Connection: opened
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "220-sxb1plzcpnl473186.prod.sxb1.secureserver.net ESMTP Exim 4.95 #2 Fri, 20 Jan 2023 01:26:20 -0700"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "220-We do not authorize the use of this system to transport unsolicited,"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "220 and/or bulk e-mail."
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SERVER -> CLIENT: 220-sxb1plzcpnl473186.prod.sxb1.secureserver.net ESMTP Exim 4.95 #2 Fri, 20 Jan 2023 01:26:20 -0700 220-We do not authorize the use of this system to transport unsolicited, 220 and/or bulk e-mail.
2023-01-20 08:26:20 CLIENT -> SERVER: EHLO www.mydomain.com
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-sxb1plzcpnl473186.prod.sxb1.secureserver.net Hello www.mydomain.com [::1]"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-SIZE 52428800"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-8BITMIME"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-PIPELINING"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-PIPE_CONNECT"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-AUTH PLAIN LOGIN"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-STARTTLS"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250 HELP"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SERVER -> CLIENT: 250-sxb1plzcpnl473186.prod.sxb1.secureserver.net Hello www.mydomain.com [::1]250-SIZE 52428800250-8BITMIME250-PIPELINING250-PIPE_CONNECT250-AUTH PLAIN LOGIN250-STARTTLS250 HELP
2023-01-20 08:26:20 CLIENT -> SERVER: STARTTLS
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "220 TLS go ahead"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SERVER -> CLIENT: 220 TLS go ahead
2023-01-20 08:26:20 CLIENT -> SERVER: EHLO www.mydomain.com
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-sxb1plzcpnl473186.prod.sxb1.secureserver.net Hello www.mydomain.com [::1]"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-SIZE 52428800"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-8BITMIME"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-PIPELINING"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-PIPE_CONNECT"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250-AUTH PLAIN LOGIN"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "250 HELP"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SERVER -> CLIENT: 250-sxb1plzcpnl473186.prod.sxb1.secureserver.net Hello www.mydomain.com [::1]250-SIZE 52428800250-8BITMIME250-PIPELINING250-PIPE_CONNECT250-AUTH PLAIN LOGIN250 HELP
2023-01-20 08:26:20 Auth method requested: UNSPECIFIED
2023-01-20 08:26:20 Auth methods available on the server: PLAIN,LOGIN
2023-01-20 08:26:20 Requested auth method not available:
2023-01-20 08:26:20 Auth method selected: LOGIN
2023-01-20 08:26:20 CLIENT -> SERVER: AUTH LOGIN
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SMTP INBOUND: "334 VXNlcm5hbWU6"
2023-01-20 08:26:20 SERVER -> CLIENT: 334 VXNlcm5hbWU6
2023-01-20 08:26:20 CLIENT -> SERVER:
2023-01-20 08:26:22 SMTP INBOUND: "535 Incorrect authentication data"
2023-01-20 08:26:22 SERVER -> CLIENT: 535 Incorrect authentication data
2023-01-20 08:26:22 SMTP ERROR: Username command failed: 535 Incorrect authentication data
SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.
2023-01-20 08:26:22 CLIENT -> SERVER: QUIT
2023-01-20 08:26:22 SMTP INBOUND: "221 sxb1plzcpnl473186.prod.sxb1.secureserver.net closing connection"
2023-01-20 08:26:22 SERVER -> CLIENT: 221 sxb1plzcpnl473186.prod.sxb1.secureserver.net closing connection
2023-01-20 08:26:22 Connection: closed
SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.
Email System Test (using SMTP) — Completed


Your help would be much appreciated.

Kind regards,
Thomas

This is the error:

2023-01-20 08:26:22 SERVER -> CLIENT: 535 Incorrect authentication data
2023-01-20 08:26:22 SMTP ERROR: Username command failed: 535 Incorrect authentication data
SMTP Error: Could not authenticate

I've never heard of using SMTP without a username and password. The error implies it is expecting one even though your instructions say not to use one.

Can I get FTP access? It might be trying to authenticate with a blank value and I may need to update the code to skip authentication when the username and password are left blank.

Yes I did think this odd too but these are the settings which I have copied and pasted after I opened a support ticket with them.

I just had to add this line:

$Email->SMTPAuth = false;

Then the email seems to send.

Thank you! – I have just tested this my end and it now works!

I am getting the same error message
220-We do not authorize the use of this system to transport unsolicited and/or bulk e-mail and only on the live server not the testing server. I am thinking I have SMTP settings allow on the testing server and not to allow on live but I cannot seem to locate those settings.

If applicable, Where would I add $Email->SMTPAuth = false; to my forgot password page.

I found where to put the code $Email->SMTPAuth = false;
I added it in our test gmail.php page

I got the same error
"220-We do not authorize the use of this system to transport unsolicited and/or bulk email"
as well as this error further down the page:
Error: Could not authenticate.

I'm going to have to look into this with you again. I thought we had it working. Give me a call and I can help if you are still having issues. I'll be in the office today through thursday.